1. As the City Budget tightens in response to the economic downturn, and in response to a projected long-term revenue gap, which programs and services should receive the highest priority?
There are no easy answers when it comes to reducing or eliminating city expenses. I believe that the approach that the city has taken recently is the right one. Input from the public and input from the city staff have helped to shape the difficult cutbacks that our reduced revenues require. The principles that the city is following are sound ones: to maintain public safety and other core services, minimize service reductions for those residents who need the most assistance, and find more efficient ways to deliver services. For the 2010 budget, 26 positions will be eliminated and 16 left vacant—most in sales tax supported positions. However, the safety net services remain funded, and no reduction in police officer or firefighter positions is foreseen. I support this approach. I also support keeping the all library facilities open, though on a reduced schedule, and making sure that all recreational facilities remain open, looking for additional parks efficiencies, with a high priority on parks maintenance.
2. The current City Council has identified as one of its priorities creating a welcoming, inclusive and safe community for all. How can our police department best support this vision?
In our quest for social sustainability, we need to make sure that Boulder creates an inclusive, welcoming and safe community for all. An important part of that effort is how the police force interacts with the public. The police force can support this vision in several ways. First, we can hire people to staff the force who are diverse in and of themselves. Of particular importance is the inclusion on the force of officers who speak Spanish, since a major impediment to a positive experience with the police may be a language barrier. We also need to make sure that all our officers go through sensitivity and diversity training to help them better understand ethnic and other differences that they may encounter while on the job.
3. The City has made many fine efforts to solicit input from underrepresented communities, such as the “Meetings-in-a-Box” component of the last community survey. Participants often feel, however, that they do not know what happens as a result. How can the City do a better job of following up with those underrepresented communities on their input?
I fully support the concept of the meeting in a box to garner input from under-represented communities. Hearing feedback from those who typically do not participate in city processes is an important way to gauge issues and concerns from those communities. To address the meeting in the box participants' concerns as to the result of their input, the city could do several things. The consultants who created the meeting in a box format have come up with the idea of community connector meetings. The connector meetings would be similar in approach to the meetings in a box, but instead of being self-directed, would include a staff presentation on topics of interest. The meetings would be led by a facilitator with information on the matters to be covered given to the participants in advance. The community connector meeting approach seems like a sensible one to me. The city could also look to give individual responses to concerns raised by those at the meeting in a box.
4. What is your position relative to the City’s diversity initiative and what more can or should the City do to support expanded leadership representation for underrepresented communities on Boards and Commissions and on City staff? Would you, for example, support a City Charter amendment to allow resident non-citizens to serve on Boards and Commissions?
I support diversity in our city and believe that it is a key to having a vibrant and interesting community. The City of Boulder's Diversity Commitment states it well: “We should all explore with each other and the Boulder community the most inclusionary solution for every opportunity. When we are responsive to the needs of an organizational culture that encourages and embraces the expression of diversity, the result is a strong, enriched and sustainable community.” As to the issue of a city charter amendment to allow non-residents to serve on city boards and commissions, I think that there are opportunities for increased inclusiveness, particularly on boards that are advisory. I would need to understand more about the legal implications of having non-residents on boards and commission that have been delegated decision-making powers from the council. Those boards would include the Planning Board, BOZA and Landmarks.
5. Mobile homes provide some of the most affordable housing in Boulder, but mobile home residents are quite vulnerable because landlords control pad rent and park management. What should the City's role be in preserving this form of housing and protecting mobile home residents?
In my opinion, mobile homes are an important part of the solution to our affordable housing issues, and the city should look for avenues that preserve mobile parks. The current situation at Orchard Grove Mobile Home Park has highlighted the vulnerable position of the mobile home owners. Options at the municipal level for preserving mobile home parks could include some form of rent assistance or even purchasing the underlying ground. Unfortunately, the city's options may be somewhat limited by state law, and lobbying at the state level may be appropriate. Such lobbying could include efforts to limit rent increases to once per 12 months, limiting increases to 10%, a right of first refusal to purchase the park, a state fund for relief of rent increases and a fund for the relocation or evicted or displaced mobile home owners.
6. Many in the community feel that the contamination issue at Valmont Butte, a sacred Arapaho site and home to an historic settler’s cemetery, remains unresolved. How would you propose to address this issue?
The contamination of Valmont Butte has been a difficult issue to address. The city has attempted remediation of the contamination on the site with a concrete pad and other measures to prevent the spread of the toxic material. Prairie dogs at the location have added to the difficulties in properly remediating the site. One of the most important things that the city can do is make sure that there is full access to the public regarding information on the cleanup. The city also needs to be sensitive to Native American issues. This summer a Native American monitor was scheduled to be onsite for soil sampling tests. One possible approach for removal of additional contaminants from the site would be to seek funds from potentially responsible parties who may have contributed to the original contamination.
7. Would you consider ensuring access to recreational and sports activities for children and youth of all backgrounds a priority? If so, how would you accomplish this?
I do consider assuring access to recreational and sports activities for children and youth of all backgrounds a priority. These activities are character-building and also give a constructive outlet for channeling energy, rather than getting into trouble. In addition, the opportunity for youth of different backgrounds to interact on the playing field offers a unique chance for bonding and an opportunity to overcome stereotypes. Although funding is a challenge in these difficult economic times, the recommended 2010 budget gets it right, I think, in terms of assuring that parks maintenance remains a high priority and that all recreation facilities remain open. I also support the Youth Services Initiative, which is a community-based after school and summer program for children living in public housing. The program partners with other agencies, including Boulder Housing Partners and the I Have a Dream Foundation to remove economic, transportation and language barriers to participation.
